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As law students passionate about sustainability, climate change, and environmental reform, we are deeply concerned with the lack of attention given to the transition of workers in the grander economic [...]

Recently, the need for a thermo-regulating fabric in the textile industry has motivated both researchers and scientists to explore this new type of smart fabric. This study aimed to develop a smart textile using a polyester fabric coated with microencapsulated trimethylolethane (TME) hydrate as the phase change material. The TME microcapsules were produced via in situ polymerization of melamine-urea-formaldehyde (MUF) at varying emulsification times, stirring rates, and TME hydrate concentrations. A knife-over-roll coating method was incorporated, using polyester resin as the binder for the production of the smart fabric. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) analysis, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) were conducted to examine the chemical, morphological, and thermal characteristics of the microcapsules and the smart fabric, respectively. Results showed that the highest amount of microencapsulated TME phase change material obtained was 18.883 mg. FT-IR results confirmed the presence of TME hydrate and MUF resin in the microcapsule at 3300, 2870, 1148, and 1390 cm−1. The SEM results revealed an amorphous and rough surface of microcapsules. Furthermore, the DSC results demonstrated favorable thermal characteristics, measuring the latent heat storage capacities of the microcapsules before and after application to the fabric as 205.1674 J/g and 224.7318 J/g, respectively. Finally, the encapsulation efficiency was calculated as 64.715%, indicating potential fabric thermal storage applications.

Recently, the need for a thermo-regulating fabric in the textile industry has motivated both researchers and scientists to explore this new type of smart fabric. This study aimed to develop a smart textile using a polyester fabric coated with microencapsulated trimethylolethane (TME) hydrate as the phase change material. The TME microcapsules were produced via in situ polymerization of melamine-urea-formaldehyde (MUF) at varying emulsification times, stirring rates, and TME hydrate concentrations. A knife-over-roll coating method was incorporated, using polyester resin as the binder for the production of the smart fabric. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) analysis, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) were conducted to examine the chemical, morphological, and thermal characteristics of the microcapsules and the smart fabric, respectively. Results showed that the highest amount of microencapsulated TME phase change material obtained was 18.883 mg. FT-IR results confirmed the presence of TME hydrate and MUF resin in the microcapsule at 3300, 2870, 1148, and 1390 cm−1. The SEM results revealed an amorphous and rough surface of microcapsules. Furthermore, the DSC results demonstrated favorable thermal characteristics, measuring the latent heat storage capacities of the microcapsules before and after application to the fabric as 205.1674 J/g and 224.7318 J/g, respectively. Finally, the encapsulation efficiency was calculated as 64.715%, indicating potential fabric thermal storage applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study was conducted to test the effect of parental asset holding on child educational outcomes using 2004 data from the Survey of Income and Program Participation. Findings show that assets are a significant predictor of all child academic outcomes. Implications for policy and practice are also discussed.

For low-income families, homeownership represents an important strategy for promoting long-term social and economic development. Individual Development Account (IDA) programs facilitate saving toward assets such as a home through matching, financial education, and case management. Using longitudinal experimental data from the American Dream Demonstration, this study examines the impact of IDA participation on homeownership rates and on clearing old debts. Low-income participants were interviewed after 18 months (Wave 2) and after program completion at 48 months (Wave 3). Logistic regression results indicate that among those who were renters at baseline, IDA participation significantly increases the clearing of old debts at Wave 2 and homeownership rates at Wave 3. IDA participants with cleared debt activity had the highest probability of becoming homeowners at Wave 3 (32 percent), while those who were not IDA participants and did not have such activity had only a 9.6 percent probability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]